Machine for packaging loose bulky material



April 23, 1963 E. H. STAFF MACHINE FOR PACKAGING LOOSE BULK! MATERIAL Filed Dec. 23, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 .23 INVENTOR.

0W4R0 6'. 3 34/ BY V) 2 E. H. STAFF MACHINE FOR PACKAGING LOOSE BULK! MATERIAL April 23, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 23, 1960 1 I II I INVENTOR.

April 23, 1963 E. H. STAFF 3,086 5 MACHINE FOR PACKAGING LOOSE BULKY MATERIAL Filed Dec. 25, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

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April 23, 1963 E. H. STAFF 3,086,564

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING LOOSE BULKY MATERIAL Filed Dec. 25, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR. [@IVIRD b. 6714 7 April 23, 1963 E. H. STAFF MACHINE FOR PACKAGING LOOSE. BULKY MATERIAL 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 23, 1960 H F a m M M m r m a W p/ r U/W J W I. 4 H n p a. M M 4 M a 5mm 0 E Y Wm M w 9 B A; 0 w 6 2 an M l1 we N Z 7 0V {II a: J c 8 C! \m M u I.

Q 7 .u w W/ m a J 4 4 J M Q E. H. STAFF MACHINE FOR PACKAGING LOOSE BULKY MATERIAL Filed Dem. 23, I960 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 ATTOR VA'Y United States Patent 3,086,564 MACHINE FOR PAGKAGING LOOSE BULKY MATERIAL Edward H. Stalf, 961 Harcourt Road, GrossePointe Park, Mich. Filed Dec'. 23, 1960,-Ser. No. 78,115 15 Claims. (Cl. 141--81)' This invention relates to packaging machinery and more particularly pertains to amachine for packaging loose bulky material in sized and shaped bags or cartons.

Packaging machines have been employed heretofore to facilitate the packaging of loose bulky material, however, the several devices of the prior arthave not proven entirely satisfactory inasmuch as they are complicated in design and; construction, expensive to manufacture, diflicult to maintain in use, slow in operation, and unable to handle loose bulky materials with complete satisfaction especially as to desired compaction, size, and shape.

With the foregoing in View, the primary object of the invention is to provide a packaging machine which is simple in designand construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to use, easy to maintain in use, which is rapid in operation, and which satisfactorily handles loose bulky material in operation to provide desired compaction, size, and shape.

An object of the invention is to provide a compaction, sizing, and shaping delivery bin having movable plates for moving the loose material disposed in the chamber to the desired compaction, size, and shape.

An object of the invention is to provide movable side and end plates in the compaction bin which move selectively inwardly for sizing and shaping and a top plate which moves downwardly for the delivery of the material to the bag or carton.

An object of the invention is to provide a weighing hopper over the receiving and compaction bin supported on a scale for weighing and delivering the correct amount of material to the chamber without loss of material and without danger of weighing a portion of the material more than once.

An object of the invention is to provide means for. dumping the hopper and operating the movable plates of the bin including cam operated linkage for automatically dumping the hopper into the bin and automatically moving the side plate, end plate, and top plate to effect delivery to the bag or carton without lossof material due to mishandling and throwing.

An object of the invention is to provide a constantly, running flywheel" arid drive means which is selectively clutched and declutched to the cam shaft for driving the cams and linkage in an automatic cycle.

An object of the invention is to provide brake means automatically activated and deactivated in the cycle.

An object of the invention is to have a storage platform over the weighing hopper having an aperture leading to the hopper for easy feeding of material into the weighing hopper so that material can be fed only internally of the hopper.

An object of the invention is to provide a delivery chute at the bottom of the sizing and compaction bin upon which a bag or package is easily disposed for receiving the sized, shaped, and compacted material therein.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following description of a packaging machine embodying the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1' is a front elevational view of a double unit machine showing dual delivery chutes and controls.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side-elevational view of FIG. 1 taken on the line 2-2 thereof with parts broken away 2 and in cross section for clearer illustration showing mechanism of a single unit. I

FIG. 3 is a top plan enlarged view ofthe left side of the device seen in FIG. 1 with the top platform and hopper removed.

FIG, 4 is an enlarged side-elevational view of the hop-- per seen in FIG. 2 taken from the opposite side thereof showing same in closed position.

FIG. 5' is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the hopper in openposition.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3 taken on the line 66 thereof.

FIG. 7 is a schematic wiring diagram showing the electrical portions of the device.

FIG- 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the bin and compaction chamber portion showing the parts in more detail.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view'of the device seen in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 9 taken on the line 10-10 thereof; and

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 9 taken on the line -1111 thereof.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, the packaging machine disclosed therein to illustrate the invention comprises, a dual unit body 10 including a supporting frame 11, a bulk material supporting and loading-top platform 12 above the frame 11 having hopper loading apertures 13; each of the dual packaging units comprises a hopper 14 disposed below an aperture 13 for receiving bulky material supported by a scale 15 for weighing the correct amount of material, a material receiving, sizing, and compaction bin 16 disposed below the hopper 14 for receiving the material therefrom.

The compaction bin 16 comprises a stationary bottomwall 16A supported onthe machine frame and includes an upstanding first side wall 16B fixed on the bottom wall 16A. The side Wall 16B extends endwise past the bottom wall 16A and connects with and supports the second end wall 16C at one edge. A fourth side wall 16D is fixed on the bottom wall 16A. A third short side wall 16E- lies spaced from and parallel to side wall 16B and is connected and supported at one edge by side wall 16D and at its other edge connects to and supports the other edge of end wall 16C. Side wall 16E, end wall 16C, and the portion side wall 16B opposite short side wall 16E lie outwardly of bottom wall 16A. Short side wall 16E, the portion of side wall 16B opposite thereto, and endwall create a three sided .bottomless enclosure hereinafter referred to as the compaction chamber portion. A fifth side wall 16F is supported on the bottom wall 16A and lies parallel to' and spaced from side wall 16D. A' sixth side wall 16G is supported on the bottom wall 16A and lies parallel to and spaced from side wall 16B and in the same plane as short side wall 16E.

Fourth sidewall 16D and fifth side wall-16F are spaced apart and parallel creating a first channel therebetween. Third short side wall 16E and sixth side wall 16G lie in the same plane spaced apart by the first channel and they are parallel'to and spaced from first side wall 16B creating a second channel communicating with the first channel.

A seventh side wall 16H is fixed on the bottom wall 16A and interconnects side walls 16D and 16F. An eighth side wall16l is fixed on the bottom wall 16A and interconnects side walls 16B and 16G.

The bin 16 has a first sidewise movable side plate 17' normal to and lying between the side walls 16D and F lying opposite the end wall 16C. The movable side plate 17 lies in front of fixed side wall 16H. The movable side plate 17 travel in the first channel from the solid line position shownin FIG. 3' and FIGS. 8-11 to the dotted line position indicated in the plane of side walls 16E and G in line with the compaction chamber portion.

The bin 16 has a second movable end plate 18 normal to and lying between side walls 16B and G and lying opposite the end wall 16C. The movable end plate 18 lies in front of fixed side wall 161. The movable end plate 18 travels in the second channel from the solid line position shown in FIG. 3 and FIGS. 8-11 to the dotted line position indicated in the plane of side wall 161) forming the fourth side of the compaction chamber portion.

The bin 16 has a third movable top plate 19 normally overlying the compaction chamber portion created by end wall 16C, short side wall 16E, the portion of side wall 16B opposite thereto, and the end plate 18 in its advanced dotted line position. The movable top plate 19 travels from the top dotted line position indicated in FIG. 2, past the solid line position shown, to the bottom dotted line position indicated.

A chute 20 is fixed on the bin 16 and supported on the machine frame lying below the compaction chamber portion created by the end wall 16C, short side wall 16E, the portion of side wall 16B opposite thereto and the end plate 18 in its advanced dotted line position. The top plate 19 moves down between the end wall 16C and opposite movable side plate 18 in the dotted line position and between the short side wall 16E and the portion of side wall 16B opposite thereto. The top plate 19 moves through the compaction chamber portion and the chute 20.

Thus the bin 16 has a sidewise movable side plate 17, opposite fixed side wall 16B, an endwise movable end plate 18, opposite extending fixed end wall 16C, and a downwardly movable top plate 19 which are automatically synchronized and powered upon delivery of the bulk material to the bin 16. The chute 20 on the bin 16 located below the top wall 19 and extending end wall 160 receives the material and delivers same into a bag 21. The motor drive, cams, clutches, and linkage are automatically cycled and operate the hopper 14 and the bin plates 17, 18, and 19 automatically for delivery of material to the bag 21 as hereinafter more fully described.

More particularly, the scale 15 supports the hopper 14 via a bracket 22 so that the hopper 14 is suspended and included in the initial adjustment of the scale 15. The hopper 14 has paired normally closed bottom doors 23 and 24 hingedly mounted as at 25 and 26 operated by pivotally disposed arms 27 and 28 and springs 29 and 30 which are pivotally connected to the doors as at 31 and 32. A bell crank lever 33 is pivotally mounted as at 34 and is gearwise connected, not shown, to a crank lever 35 which is pivotally mounted at 36 so that upon a link 37 moving the bell crank 33 from the position seen in FIG. 4 to the position seen in FIG. 5, studs 38 and 39 on the crank levers 33 and 35 respectively move out from the position seen in FIG. 4 to that of FIG. moving the arms 27 and 28 respectively sidewise outwardly swinging on the pivots 27Y and 28Y so that the doors 23 and 24 are completely opened to drop the weighed-out bulky material from the hopper 14 downwardly into the bin 16. It is also to be noted that in the position of FIG. 4 that the studs 38 and 39 and the rest of the operating linkages are out of contact with any portion of the hopper thereby not interferring with the correct weighing of the material and, upon retraction of the link 37, the doors 23 and 24 move back from the position seen in FIG. 5 to that of FIG. 4 automatically under the power of the springs 29 and 30.

Amotor 40, FIGS. 3 and 6, constantly drives a flywheel 41 via a belt 42 to rotate a shaft 43 and a magnetic clutch 44. A sleeve 45 carries a small gear 46 and an armature 47 and they are freely rotatably concentrically disposed on the shaft 43. When the clutch 44 is energized, drive is furnished through the inner shaft 43 to the clutch half 44 and then through magnetic attraction to the armature 47, sleeve 45, and gear 46 which meshes with and drives a large gear 77 fixed to a cam shaft 49 carrying double track cam wheels 50 and 51. A magnetic brake 48 supported on a bracket 48X is freely concentrically disposed about the sleeve 45 and brakes the armature 47 to stop the rotation of the sleeve 45 and gears 46 and 77 stopping the cam wheels 58 and 51.

Cam wheel 50 has a face track 52 carrying a roller 53 on an arm 54 which is pivoted around a shaft 55 and a link 56 is connected to the bottom. of an arm 54 and operates a bell crank 57 moving link 58 which operates link 37 moving the hopper bell crank lever 33 to open and close the hopper doors 23 and 24.

Upon starting to rotate, the cam shaft 49 and track 52 operates the hopper dumping linkage first and this linkage is herein referred to and designated as the A linkage.

The cam wheel 50 has an opposite face 59 and track 60 to that last described wherein a roller 61 rides in a cam track 60 with a roller 61 attached to an arm 62 hung pivoted on the shaft 55 which connects to a link 63 which actuates a bell crank 64 moving a link 65 and a lever 66 to operate a plunger 67 to move the bin side plate 17 inwardly from the solid line position to the dotted line position as shown in FIG. 3; this i the second linkage actuated when the camshaft 49 rotates and is herein referred to and designated as the B linkage.

It is to be noted that upon the operation of the B linkage and the movement of the side plates 17 from the solid to the dotted line position that the material in the bin 16 is moved to a position in front of the bin end plate 18.

The cam 51 has a track 70 in its side 71, FIG. 6, in which a roller 72 is disposed with an arm 73 pivotally hanging on the shaft 55 and supporting a roller 72 for movement therewith and to move a link 74 attached to the bottom of the arm 73 which operates a plunger '75 on the end plate 18 so that upon actuation of the linkage last described, hereinafter referred to and designated as the C linkage, the end plate 18 moves from the solid line position shown in FIG. 3 to the dotted position shown moving the material in the bin 18 to the position under the top plate '19.

The next sequentially operated linkage is actuated by the cam 50 track 52 which is doubly used to not only move the A linkage but also the D linkage and which consists of a roller riding in the track 52 supported on an arm 87 on an arm 81, FIG. 6, pivoted on shaft 86 moving the arm 81 and a bell crank 82 which moves a lever 83 via a cable 84 attached to a pivotally mounted chute door 85 from a position closing the chute 20 to the position opening the chute seen in FIG. 2 so that the top plate 19 has clear passage and so that the material being packaged is not further compressed as it by-passes the door 85 and also so that the top plate 19 does not suddenly force the door 85 open.

The next sequentially operated linkage is the E linkage operated via the cam 51 having a track formed therein which a roller 91 rides as carried by a swing arm 92 pivoted on the shaft 68 and a link 93 connects the action of the roller 91 to a beam 94 pivoted on shaft 55 and an arm 95, which is connected to a plunger top portion 96 via a link 97 and a plunger bottom portion 98 is attached to the top plate 19. Upon the actuation of the E linkage the top plate 19 moves from the top dotted line position seen in FIG. 2 through the solid line position to the bottom dotted line position indicated thereby moving the material in the bin 16 downwardly through the chute 20 into the bag 21. Upon the top plate 19 and 'wthe plunger 96 moving downwardly the material is B, C, D, and E linkages being sequentially operated one after the other in thatorder.

Referring to the driving and braking mechanism of FIG. 6, it will be noted that the flywheel 41 is driven by a belt 42 so as to constantly rotate the. shaft 43 having the clutch member 44 connected thereto and this assembly constantly runs with the motor 40. The armature 47 is attached to the sleeve 45 which carries the small gear 46 and thisassembly is concentrically disposed around the shaft 43 and it will be noted that the brake 43 is concentrically freely disposed about thesleeve 45 and shaft 43- and does not rotate with either one but is held stationary by its attaching arm 48X.

The operation of the device is such that the constantly moving drive shaft 43 and clutch 44 are connected to the armature 47 by energizing the magnetic clutch 44 to grip and drive the armature 47, sleeve 45', gear 46 so as to turn the large gear 77. To stop the device, the clutch 44* is de-energized and the brake 48 is energized so that it breaks the armature 47 causing the sleeve 45 and gear 46 to stop the large gear 77.

Referring now to the wiring diagram of FIG. 7, a-master switch 100 opens and closes electric power supply to leads 101 and 102 with the motor 40 disposed betweenthe leads via wires 103 and 104 so that the motor runs constantly upon closing the master switch 100. The leads 101 and 102 also power a full wave rectifier 105 which in turn supplies direct current to leads 106 and 107. The brake potentiometer field 108 is disposed between the leads 106 and 107 via leads 110 and 111 and a clutch potentiometer field 109 is disposed between leads 112 and'107 via leads 134 and 135. The brake coil 48 is disposed in a lead 113 from the lead 107 to a potentiometer armature 114 while the clutch coil 44 is disposed in a lead 115 coming from the lead 107 to the potentiometer armature 116 via a switch '117 which is double connected to a switch 118 and a lead 119 to the lead 1'12 for by-passing the potentiometer field 109' and armature 116 to the clutch coil 44 under certain conditions hereinafter stated.

A control relay 120 is connected to the lead 107 via a lead 121 on one side and selectively on the other side via leads 122. and 123 through a manual start switch 124 and through a shunt circuit 125; the shunt circuit contains a normally closed automatic stop switch 126 which is operated by a lug 127 on the gear wheel 77 so as to open the switch 126 upon the device completing a cycle and a normally closed manual interrupt switch 128 is disposed in the shunt circuit 125 for manually stopping the machine at any desired time.

A control relay operated normally closed selector switch 130 is in the lead 111 to the potentiometer field 108 on one side and a normally closed selector switch 131 is disposed on the other side of the potentiometer field 108 in the lead 110. These selector switches 130 and 131 are normally closed when the control relay 120 is not energized and it follows that the brake coil 48 is normally energized. The control relay 120 also operates normally open selector switches 132 and 133 on either side of the potentiometer coil 109 in a lead 135 and in the lead 112 respectively so that the clutch 44 is normally not energized. It will be noted that when control relay 120 is energized, the selector switches 132 and 133' are closed locking closed the shunt circuit 125 to hold the control relay 120 in circuit. It is also to be noted that selector switch 133 energizes lead 134 on one side of potentiometer field 109 and selector switch 132 energizes lead 135 on either side of the potentiometer field 109 to provide energy for the clutch 44 through switch 117.

The control relay 120 also closes a normally open selector switch 136 upon being energized so as to power alamp 137' on the tray area of the device and a lamp 138 in the chute area; closing selector switch 136 also energizes a counter 139 to load the spring return and upon the selector switch 136 opening the counter counts out one count. The potentiometer armature 114 to the brake coil 48 is adjustable via knob 140 on the face of the machine while the potentiometer armature 116 tothe clutch coil 44 is adjustable via a knob 141.

The potentiometer 114 to the brake coil 48 is adjusted so that upon breaking a slight slippage occurs topreventinstantaneous stopping and resultant shock to the mechanism. The potentiometer armature 116 is also adjusted relative to the potentiometer fieldcoil 109' so as to permit slight initial slipping between the clutch 44 and the armature '47 upon the device starting so as to gradually initiate starting of the cams and levers. Once the mech anism is started the potentiometer adjustment to the clutch 44 is strong enough to keep the-mechanism turning, however, due to the length of the arm 94in rapidly ejecting the compressed material out of the chute 20, an added strain is put on the clutch so the full current of the direct current system is disposed across the clutch coil 44 by the action of the chute arm lever 81 opening switch 117 and closing switch 118 between the leads and 119 so that during the period of the downthrust of the top plate 19 the full power of the clutch 44 is used to effect the thrust and upon the chute lever 81 retracting the switches 117 and 118 return to the normal position shown in the wiring diagram of FIG. 7.

In operation, the operator loads loose bulky material on the platform 12 such as spinach, lettuce, cabbage leaves, excelsior, etc. and then closes the master switch 100 on the front of themachine as shown in FIG. 1 with the potentiometer previously adjusted and the counter 139 set at zero and the machine is ready to start operation. In the event the brake and clutch potentiometers are not in satisfactory adjustment they can be easily adjusted by turning the knobs 140 and 141 on the front panel of the machine. Two operators operate each side of the machine; one in-the top portion adjacent the platform 12 loading the hopper 14 and another operator adjacent the chute 20 for putting the bags 21 on the chute and receiving them after they havebeen filled.

The top operator takes the loose bulky material and drops it through the aperture 13 into the hopper 14 until the correct weight is achieved on the scale 15 whereupon the top operator presses the start switch 124 which energizes the control relay opening selector switches and 131 to the brake'coil 48 and closing selector switches 132 and 133 to the clutch coil 44 whereupon drive is connected to the cam shaft 49 and the cams 50 and; 51 start to turn whereupon the A linkage actuates opening the hopper doors 23 and 24 to drop the weighedout material contained therein into the bin 16; the B linkage is then actuated by the cam 50 to move the bin side plate 17 inwardly thereby positioning the bulky material in the bin in front of the end plate'18; the C linkage is next actuated moving the material in front of the end plate 18 to a point below the topplate 19;'the D' linkage is then actuated to open the chute door 85 and to operate switches 117 and 118 to connect the clutch coil 44 in the full direct current line; and then the E linkage is operated to move the top' plate 19 downwardly from the dotted line position seen in FIG. 2 at the top through the intermediate solid line position shown to the botto-m'line dotted line position indicated whereupon the material in the bin 16 in front of the end plate 18 is moved downwardly by the top plate 19 into the bag 21 and the machine continues to move until the lug 127' on the large gear wheel 177 opens the automatic stop switch 126 in the shunt circuit de-energizin-g the control relay 1-20 permitting the normally open control switches- 132 and 133 in the clutch circuit to open and permitting. normally closed selector switches 130 and 131 in the brake circuit to close thereby stopping the machine and permit switch 126 to again close for the next cycle of the machine. While the machine is completing the last 75% of its cycle, the top operator can refill the hopper 14 with the correct amount of material and as soon as the cycle has terminated the top operator can again press the start button to the switch 124 to effect another cycle of the machine, and, it is obvious that as soon as the bag and contents are ejected off the chute 20 that the bottom operator again places a bag 21 on the chute so that the machine is substantially and continually in operation without any loss of time.

In the double unit machine shown there are two top operators loading on either side of the platform 12 and two bottom operators receiving the loaded bags at the bottom of the machine so that tons of loose bulky material can be accurately and uniformly packed and shaped in a very short time.

In the event that the latter operator is not ready for delivery he may press the manual interrupt switch 128 stopping the machine anywhere in the cycle and since the lights 137 and 138 are disposed in view of the top and bottom operators respectively both operators know at the same time when the machine has terminated cycling and started cycling.

Although but a single embodiment of the invention showing a double unit has been disclosed and described in detail it is obvious that many changes may be made in the size, shape, detail and arrangement of the various elements of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

I. A packaging machine particularly suitable for packaging loose bulky material in a suitably sized and shaped container, comprising a top platform for holding a supply of material to be packaged having an aperture leading to a weighing hopper, a weighing hopper disposed below said platform aperture; said hopper having at least one normally closed bottom door for holding material in said hopper during weighing, a scale supporting said hopper, a receiving, shaping, sizing, compaction, and delivery bin below said hopper adapted to receive material from said hopper upon said bottom door opening; said bin having a bottom wall, a first side wall on said bottom wall including an end portion on said first side wall extending beyond said bottom wall, a second end wall abutting said first side wall extending end portion at a right angle lying spaced outwardly beyond said bottom wall, a third short side wall on said end wall lying normal thereto and spaced from and parallel to said first side wall extending end portion; said first side wall extending end portion, said second end wall, and said third short side wall forming a bottomless three sided compaction chamber portion extending beyond said bottom wall; a fourth side wall abutting said third side wall lying normal to said third side wall and spaced from said first side wall, a fifth side wall spaced from and lying parallel to said fourth side Wall and spaced from said first side wall, and a sixth side wall on said fifth side wall lying normal thereto and parallel and spaced from said first side wall; said fourth side wall and said fifth side wall lying parallel and spaced apart creating a first channel therebetween; said third short side wall and said sixth side wall lying in the same plane spaced from said first side wall creating a second channel therebetween communicating with said first channel; a movable side plate normal to and lying between and movable between said fourth and fifth side walls movable in said first channel from a retracted position to an advanced position adjacent the plane of said third short side wall and said sixth side wall to move material in said first channel into said second channel with sidewise compaction; a movable end plate normal to and lying between said first and sixth side walls in said second channel and movable from a retracted position to an .advanced position adjacent the plane of said fourth side wall to move material in said second channel into said extending compaction chamber portion with endwise compaction, a chute leading downwardly from said bin extending compaction chamber portion adapted to receive a packaging medium, such as a bag, thereon in sleeved relationship, a top plate over said bin extending compaction chamber portion adapted to move from a retracted position through said bing extending compaction chamber portion and through said chute so as to move the material downwardly out of said bin extending compaction chamber portion and through said chute into a packaging medium, and means automatically rapidly operating said hopper, side walls, and said end, and top plates sequentially so that loose bulky material in said bin is first moved sidewardly with even sideward compaction, then moved endwardly with even endwise compaction, and then downwardly with even topwise compaction so that the material is homogeneously compacted and shaped and sized as desired for the packaging medium prior to delivery thereto thereby providing a substantially universally evenly compacted material filler for the packaging medium of the desired size and shape.

2. A packaging machine as set forth in claim 1, said weighing hopper bottom door being normally spring biased shut for holding material therein during weighing, hopper dumping linkage operating to open said hopper door; said hopper dumping linkage being normally out of contact with said hopper to eliminate influence during weighing; said hopper dumping linkage being adapted to contact and open said hopper bottom door upon activation of said linkage to dump material from said hopper and to then retract out of contact therewith for the next loading and weighing of material in said hopper.

3. A packaging machine as set forth in claim 1, a drive motor, a magnetic clutch driven by said motor, an armature adjacent to and adapted to be selectively driven by said clutch, means for selectively energizing said clutch for driving said armature, a cam shaft, second drive means connecting said armature and said cam shaft, cams on said cam shaft, linkage adjacent said cams adapted to operate said hopper, said bin side plate, said bin end plate, and said bin top plate, and means riding said cams connected to said linkages effecting movement of said linkages sequentially.

4. A packaging machine as set forth in claim 3, a magnetic brake adjacent said armature adapted to selectively stop rotation of said armature upon energization of said magnetic brake; said second drive means being adapted to energize either said magnetic brake or said magnetic clutch selectively.

5. A packaging machine as set forth in claim 4, third means for adjusting the braking and clutching forces respectively below full power for easing shock to the driven mechanism, and fourth means for cutting out said third means to cut in full power to said clutch after the mechanism is in motion to reduce slippage in drive between said clutch and said armature.

6. A packaging machine particularly suitable for packaging loose bulky material in a suitably sized and shaped container, comprising a top platform for holding a supply of material to be packaged having an aperture leading to a weighing hopper, a weighing hopper disposed below said platform aperture; said hopper having at least one normally closed bottom door for holding material in said hopper during weighing; a scale supporting said hopper, a bin having a bottom wall below said hopper adapted to receive material from said hopper upon said bottom door opening; said bin having side walls extending beyond said bottom wall forming an open bottom portion on one end thereof constituting a compaction chamber portion, a movable side plate on said bin adapted to move from its retracted position to a point sidewise adjacent said bin compaction chamber so as to move and align material in said bin in a sidewise direction with said compaction chamber portion, a movable end plate on said bin adapted to move from a retracted position to a point endwise adjacent said compaction chamber so as to move and align material in said bin in an endwise direction within said compaction chamber portion; said bin compaction chamber portion open bottom leading downwardly from said bin compaction chamber portion adapted to deliver material downwardly outwardly of said bin compaction chamber portion to a packaging medium, such as a bag; a top plate over said bin compaction chamber portion adapted to move from an upwardly retracted position through said bin compaction chamber portion and through said open bottom so as to move the material downwardly out of said bin compaction chamber portion and through said open bottom into a packaging medium, and linkage means automatically operating said hopper, side plate, end plate, and top plate sequentially so that loose bulky material in said bin is first moved sidewardly with sideward compaction, then moved endwardly with endwise compaction, and then downwardly with topwise compaction so that material is homogeneously compacted and shaped and sized as desired similar to the packaging medium prior to delivery thereto thereby providing a substantially universally evenly compacted material filler for the packaging medium of the desired size and shape.

7. A packaging machine as set forth in claim 6, said weighing hopper bottom door being normally spring biased shut for holding material therein during weighing, hopper dumping linkage operating to open said hopper door; said hopper dumping linkage being normally out of contact with said hopper to eliminate influence during weighing; said hopper dumping linkage being adapted to contact and open said hopper bottom door upon activation of said linkage to dump material from said hopper and to then retract out of contact therewith for the next loading and weighing of material in said hopper.

8. A packaging machine as set forth in claim 6, a drive motor, a magnetic clutch driven by said motor, an armature adjacent to and adapted to be selectively driven by said clutch, means for selectively energizing said clutch for driving said armature, a cam shaft, second drive means connecting said armature and said cam shaft, cams on said cam shaft, linkage adjacent said cams adapted to operate said hopper, said bin movable side plate, said bin end plate, and said bin top plate, and means riding said cams connected to said linkages eifecting movement of said linkages sequentially.

9. A packaging machine as set forth in claim 8, a magnetic brake adjacent said armature adapted to selectively stop rotation of said armature upon energization of said magnetic brake; said second drive means being adapted to energize either said magnetic brake or said magnetic clutch selectively.

10. A packaging machine as set forth in claim 9, third means for adjusting the braking and clutching forces respectively below full power for easing shock to the driven mechanism, and fourth means for cutting out said third means to cut in full power to said clutch after the mechanism is in motion to reduce slippage in drive between said clutch and said armature.

11. A packaging machine particularly suitable for packaging loose bulky material in a suitably sized and shaped container comprising a bin having a fixed bottom wall adapted to receive material; said bin having fixed side walls including projecting side wall portions forming a three sided enclosure having an open top and bottom on one end thereof constituting a compaction chamber portion; a movable side plate on said bin adapted to move from a retracted position to a point sidewise adjacent said bin compaction chamber portion so as to move and align material in said bin with said compaction chamber portion in a sidewise direction, a movable end plate on said bin adapted to move from a retracted position to a point endwise adjacent said bin compaction chamber portion so as to move and align material in said bin portion in an endwise direction; said bin compaction chamber portion open bottom leading downwardly from said bin compaction chamber portion adapted to deliver material downwardly outwardly of said bin compaction chamber portion to a packaging medium, such as a bag; a top plate over said bin compact-ion chamber portion adapted to move from an upwardly retracted position downwardly through said bin compaction chamber portion and through said open bottom so as to move the material downwardly out of said bin compaction chamber portion and through said open bottom into a packaging medium, and linkage means automatically operating said hopper, side plate, end plate, and top plate sequentially so that loose bulky material in said bin is first moved sidewardly, and then moved endwardly, then moved downwardly so that the material is compacted and shaped and sized similar to the packaging medium prior to delivery thereto thereby providing material filler for the packaging medium of the desired size and shape.

12. A packaging machine as set forth in claim 11, a weighing hopper over said bin; said weighing hopper bottom door being normally spring biased shut for holding material therein during weighing, said hopper dumping linkage being normally out of contact with said hopper to eliminate influence during weighing; said hopper dumping linkage being adapted to contact and open said hopper bottom door upon activation of said linkage to dump material from said hopper and to then retract out of contact therewith for the next loading and weighing of material in said hopper.

13. A packaging machine as set forth in claim 11, a drive motor, a magnetic clutch driven by said motor, an armature adjacent said clutch, means for selectively energizing said clutch for driving said armature, a cam shaft, second drive means connecting said armature and said cam shaft, cams on said cam shaft, linkage adjacent said cams adapted to operate said hopper, said bin sideplate, said bin endplate, and said bin top plate, and means riding said cams connected to said linkages effecting movement of said linkages sequentially.

14. A packaging machine as set forth in claim 13, a magnetic brake adjacent said armature adapted to selectively stop rotation of said armature upon energization of said magnetic brake; said second drive means being adapted to energize either said magnetic brake or said magnetic clutch selectively.

15. A packaging machine as set forth in claim 14, third means for adjusting the braking and clutching forces respectively below full power for easing shock to the driven mechanism, and fourth means for cutting out said third means to cut in full power to said clutch after the mechanism is in motion to reduce slippage in drive between said clutch and said armature.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 932,732 Weyant Aug. 31, 1909 2,676,733 Lober Apr. 27, 1954 2,840,121 Carruthers June 24, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 57,316 Netherlands Apr. 15, 1946 667,817 Great Britain Mar. 5, 1952. 

11. A PACKAGING MACHINE PARTICULARLY SUITABLE FOR PACKAGING LOOSE BULKY MATERIAL IN A SUITABLY SIZED AND SHAPED CONTAINER COMPRISING A BIN HAVING A FIXED BOTTOM WALL ADAPTED TO RECEIVE MATERIAL; SAID BIN HAVING FIXED SIDE WALLS INCLUDING PROJECTING SIDE WALL PORTIONS FORMING A THREE SIDED ENCLOSURE HAVING AN OPEN TOP AND BOTTOM ON ONE END THEREOF CONSTITUTING A COMPACTION CHAMBER PORTION; A MOVABLE SIDE PLATE ON SAID BIN ADAPTED TO MOVE FROM A RETRACTED POSITION TO A POINT SIDEWISE ADJACENT SAID BIN COMPACTION CHAMBER PORTION SO AS TO MOVE AND ALIGN MATERIAL IN SAID BIN WITH SAID COMPACTION CHAMBER PORTION IN A SIDEWISE DIRECTION, A MOVABLE END PLATE ON SAID BIN ADAPTED TO MOVE FROM A RETRACTED POSITION TO A POINT ENDWISE ADJACENT SAID BIN COMPACTION CHAMBER PORTION SO AS TO MOVE AND ALIGN MATERIAL IN SAID BIN PORTION IN AN ENDWISE DIRECTION; SAID BIN COMPACTION CHAMBER PORTION OPEN BOTTOM LEADING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID BIN COMPACTION CHAMBER PORTION ADAPTED TO DELIVER MATERIAL DOWNWARDLY OUTWARDLY OF SAID BIN COMPACTION CHAMBER PORTION TO A PACKAGING MEDIUM, SUCH AS A BAG; A TOP PLATE OVER SAID BIN COMPACTION CHAMBER PORTION ADAPTED TO MOVE FROM AN UPWARDLY RETRACTED POSITION DOWNWARDLY THROUGH SAID BIN COMPACTION CHAMBER PORTION AND THROUGH SAID OPEN BOTTOM SO AS TO MOVE THE MATERIAL DOWNWARDLY OUT OF SAID BIN COMPACTION CHAMBER PORTION AND THROUGH SAID OPEN BOTTOM INTO A PACKAGING MEDIUM, AND LINKAGE MEANS AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING SAID HOPPER, SIDE PLATE, END PLATE, AND TOP PLATE SEQUENTIALLY SO THAT LOOSE BULKY MATERIAL IN SAID BIN IS FIRST MOVED SIDEWARDLY, AND THEN MOVED ENDWARDLY, THEN MOVED DOWNWARDLY SO THAT THE MATERIAL IS COMPACTED AND SHAPED AND SIZED SIMILAR TO THE PACKAGING MEDIUM PRIOR TO DELIVERY THERETO THEREBY PROVIDING MATERIAL FILLER FOR THE PACKAGING MEDIUM OF THE DESIRED SIZE AND SHAPE. 